Astor

I got the manual because of
1. Power
2. Purist Feeling
3. Prefer the stick feel
4. Like having a clutch
5. Power, even my 4 cylinder Cavalier I had when I was 17 felt like it had power due to the stick.
6.Dont mind traffic and stick.
7. More control
8. Power

Omicron

So, um, you like the power? :D

Aratinga

I got the manual because sportscars with slushboxes oughtta be against the law.

Kaliken

I don't have mine yet!

and am still debating between the 2!

so undecided!

allstate

This was my first manual transmission car to own (I'm 24). I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad I bought the 6MT. I now feel like I am actually driving and have much better control of what I want the car to do. Driving a stick is second nature now. I hardly even think about it.

Knerk

I first started getting MT cars because they were cheaper- Now I'm addicted to them. Wont go back to AT unless I have to. On the off chance I am driving a AT I always try press down on a clutch thats not there! Any one else have that problem?

cruzdreamer

I have the auto. It is fun but if you want instant gratification....get the manual! Noticed a big difference in power between the two. I love the paddle shifters and manual mode.....best of both worlds sort of!

Bankotsu

I wished I can get a Manual .

blizz81

I won't vote since I don't have an 8 (yet) but I'm definitely only considering the MT. When I was looking for cars, I was only interested in MT maximas as well though...the only reason I'd get an auto would be

1) pickup truck or suv
2) beast or luxobarge, such as the 95 impala SS
3) a large-displacement drag monster
4) health prohibited me to drive a manual (as in, leg issues...otherwise if I wasn't in shape to drive one, I wouldn't drive period)

Some people get them because they live in big cities and have to put up with insane rush hours. If that was me, I'd bite the bullet and buy a more econo-ish ride.

NAVILESRX8

iTrader: (1)

Never had an Automatic car.....never will...well, I might get a Tundra V8 one day.

Sin

Hafta have a stick

RX-GR8

my last 3 cars have been manual, i dont think i'll get another auto for awhile.

Fleche

I'm getting an automatic, it's a little cheaper to buy and to insure. Have to deal with downtown San Francisco traffic on a daily basis, just too lazy to drive a stick. Parking on a hill with a stick, not fun. Too many cars on the freeway so I can never get pass 80 mph anyway. I might not be a great candidate for a sports car but I like the look and the 4 seats.

meeh

The car I had before my rx8 was an automatic but aside from the rest were all manual. I think it depends on the car that I buy though. I still would buy an AT if it goes with the car. Like if i buy an SUV i'd get an automatic.

G8rboy

My take on it... if you have a left leg and a right arm, then there really isn't a decision to be made here. I'll admit the paddle shifters for the auto are pretty cool, but this is a sports car/coupe... not a minivan. After quick shifting through the 6 speed on my test drive today, I'm really impressed that Mazda made an even better tranny than they put in the Miata.

-Sean
http://theswamp.com/miata

Haze

I have never driven anything other than a manual. I find automatics far more difficult to control in bad or hard driving situations. If I need to accelerate out of a problem, it shifts down and the lag might be dangerous. If I want to use the gears on a downhill to brake, it's easier. If I need to overgear the car for traction in snow, that's easy and natural. If I want to under gear the car to use engine braking in bad weather instead of the brakes I can do that too. I like the control; it's as simple as that.

sferrett

All the cars I've ever owned were manuals. Sometimes, however, if I really want to drink that coffee on the way to work, or in stop & go traffic I think an AT would be nice to have. If I had a regular daily-driver type car that wasn't something which I had specifically because I enjoyed to drive it, then I would probably get an AT. That said - I don't think AT cars are useless, or that people who want an AT car are 'dumb' - or that an AT is a waste on a sportscar.. it's all personal preference, whatever floats your boat. Making AT vs MT a religion is kinda silly IMO. Kinda like unix vs windows - I use whichever is most appropriate for the task at hand and each has its advantages over the other.

-=Zeqs=-

I got the A/T because my girlfriend is an inexperienced driver and is EXTREMELY intimidated by a stick shift right now. At least with the RX-8, the paddle shifters are fun, and the "manual" mode kinda reminds me of Initial D the arcade game lol.

Insurance was lower with the automatic, didn't think 40 horses would make that big of a difference.

JmurphRx8

MANUAL ALL THE WAY...believe me you want a manual...

1. theres more hp
2. faster
3. SOOOOOOOO much more fun
4. and last, people seem to look up to a manual car...and kinda frown upon an automatic (that is if you have a car like the rx8, which should only be made in manual)
REAL SPORTS CARS JUSYT NEED TO BE MANUAL...you get the whole sports car feeling :D you all know what i mean

Rick

I purchased the 8 A/T because I wanted to **** off some hard core 8 M/T owners. Seriously, if I did not have a FD M/T I would have gotten the 8 M/T.

Tamas

iTrader: (1)

I had manual cars all my life - why would I change that tradition, and especially with an RX-8? :D

CraziFuzzy

If it weren't for the lower power engine coupled to it, i would have probabvly gotten the auto, I had read some great reviews of it, as far as shift speed and such, and with a lot of the driving I do, it just made a little more since... But it wasn't worth the lower horsepower.. :-)

rxeightr

Manual is best for a sports car, as you get the most driving satisfaction running thru the gears.